Rheumatology

Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease

There are many types of autoimmune disease and many symptoms.  Symptoms are worse when the patient is experiencing a flare-up of the disease.

• fatigue
• fever
• feeling generally ill or flu-like

Autoimmune diseases affect organs and tissue, most commonly

• skin
• connective tissue
• muscles
• joints
• red blood cells
• blood vessels
• endocrine glands

How are autoimmune diseases treated?

Autoimmune diseases are chronic and have no cure.  Treatment generally focuses on relieving or lessening the symptoms such as

• decreasing stress
• limit sun exposure
• exercise and eat a balanced diet
• get plenty of rest
• pain medication/ anti-inflammatory medication when joints involved
• physical therapy
• hormone replacement